When the people were in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, they had to depend on God for their provision. God provided food and water and didn’t let their clothes wear out. The Festival of Tabernacles also celebrates God’s provision in the past and the present, and looks forward to His provision in the future.
Remembering Their Dependence on God
During the eight days of the Festival of Tabernacles, the people would build three-sided structures of tree branches and camp in them. The people would pray, eat, and even sleep in these structures. These flimsy structures are known by many names: tabernacles, booths, shelters, and the Hebrew word Sukkot, which simply means “tabernacle.”
When the nation of Israel was in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, they also lived in flimsy structures or tents. They had to depend on God because there were no crops to harvest and often no water. God provided manna and water from rocks to feed His people.
When the people came into the promised land, they were able to grow crops and harvest them. But even here, they were still dependent on God to provide water and good weather. By the time of the Festival of Tabernacles, they had finished with all the harvest. They had harvested barley during the time of First Fruits. Then they harvested wheat at the time of Pentecost. Now, they harvested the last of the crops: olives and grapes. It was time to give thanks.
Our Salvation Depends on Jesus
Just as the Jews remembered their dependence on God during the Festival of Tabernacles, we remember that we are dependent on Jesus for our salvation. Ephesians 2: 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!… 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [1]
Any efforts we make to save ourselves are as flimsy as the structures in which people lived during the Festival of Tabernacles. God knows that, as sinful humans, we can’t save ourselves just like the Jews couldn’t feed themselves in the desert. But God is loving and gracious and takes care of the children, both physically and spiritually. He planned to send Jesus so that when we believe in Him, we can spend eternity with God.
To hear how to depend on God, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-festival-of-tabernacles
[1] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.